Chelmsford For You is proud to be supporting Time To Talk Day 2026, taking place on Thursday 5 February, by partnering with local charity Renew Counselling & Training and new café The Social to host Chelmsford’s very first Time To Talk Coffee Morning.
Time To Talk Day is a nationwide initiative dedicated to encouraging open conversations about mental health. It brings people together across communities, workplaces and organisations to start meaningful discussions, promote understanding, and inspire positive change.
Having open and honest conversations about mental health can be a powerful first step towards improving wellbeing. Talking helps break down stigma, builds confidence, and reassures people that they are not alone. By creating a culture where mental health is spoken about openly, more people feel able to reach out for support when they need it.
To mark this year’s Time To Talk Day, Chelmsford For You is inviting the local community to join them for a FREE, relaxed coffee morning at The Social, where the coffee is on us. The event will take place on Thursday 5 February, between 9am and 12pm (no booking required), offering a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space for people to meet, chat and connect.
Members of the Renew Counselling & Training team, including trained counsellors, will be on hand to listen and talk, as well as share information about the services available to support mental health and wellbeing, should attendees wish to find out more.
In addition, representatives from The Glamour Room (located on Can Bridge Way) will also be attending, offering complimentary hand massages to encourage a moment of relaxation and “you time”.
Plus, Chelmsford based artist curiousgb shares his experience growing up in the closet, its impact on his mental health, and his journey to self-acceptance. For Time to Talk Day, he confronts the elephant in the room with a playful diorama.
Sara Tupper, Chief Executive of Chelmsford For You, said:
“Chelmsford is such a fantastic community when it comes to coming together and supporting one another. We’re proud to be recognising this year’s Time To Talk Day, promoting the importance of conversation and reminding people that in Chelmsford, you are not alone.”
Nikki Schuster, Chief Executive of Renew Counselling & Training, said:
“We’re so grateful to Chelmsford For You and the local businesses involved in Time to Talk Day
for supporting Renew. It’s always a privilege to have meaningful conversations, raise awareness
of the support available and build relationships that help keep our vital work going. It’s only
through the support of our community that we can continue to help people across Chelmsford,
regardless of age, background or financial circumstances”
A little more about Renew Counselling & Training
Renew Counselling & Training is a BACP-accredited mental health charity based in Essex, with
over 120 years of experience. The charity provides affordable and accessible counselling for
children, young people and adults, alongside professional counselling training. Renew’s
mission is to make high-quality mental health support available to anyone who needs it,
regardless of background or financial circumstances.
The consultation closes on 3 February 2026, so please take a few minutes today to make your voice heard.
Why Your Voice Matters
This strategy will shape how we work together across Essex to tackle health inequalities and improve outcomes for residents. Your insights are essential to ensure the strategy reflects the real needs and priorities of our communities.
What We’re Asking You
We want your views on the four key areas of the strategy, which will guide the Health and Wellbeing Board’s focus over the next three years, along with the priorities within each. Your feedback will help us confirm whether these are the right areas or highlight other pressing challenges we may have overlooked.
What’s in the Strategy
Our vision: All residents are enabled to achieve good health, in safe and thriving communities, with access to support when they need it.
To achieve this, the strategy focuses on four key areas:
Improving life chances for children and young people
Helping more people into and stay in work
Building healthy, resilient, and connected communities
Creating opportunities to improve health and reduce the impact of poor health
There are three emerging priorities against each of these, including improving mental health, reducing poverty, helping more people into work, creating healthy places, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Healthwatch Essex is delighted to be starting 2026 with an exciting opportunity to join their award-winning Carers Voices team.
They are currently recruiting a Carers Voices Officer to join the Information and Guidance Team.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about ensuring unpaid carers are heard and supported. The successful candidate will play a key role in reaching out to carers, engaging with them, and listening to their experiences to help shape and improve services.
You can find full details about the role and how to apply below:
Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your networks and including it in any relevant circulars. The webpage can be accessed here: 👉 https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/get-involved
Essex County Council & Connect Futures is promoting a series of free online workshops designed to help people feel safer, more confident, and better informed when navigating online information.
We’re asking partners to help spread the word through newsletters, networks and community channels – and please do encourage onward sharing.
👨👩👧 Workshops for Parents
Misinformation, Community and Online Safety
These sessions support parents to better understand:
What misinformation and disinformation are, and where they’re most commonly encountered
How to recognise symbols of hate and misleading online narratives
What is legal and illegal online in relation to hate and harmful content
Practical ways to talk to children about what they’re seeing online
The workshops are welcoming, interactive and delivered by trained facilitators, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
Spot common tricks used in misleading posts, viral rumours and emotionally charged content
Understand how images, headlines and algorithms influence reactions
Recognise how scams, fraud and misinformation often overlap
Use simple tools to check whether information is trustworthy before sharing
No technical skills are needed – just curiosity. Sessions are friendly, jargon-free and focused on staying safe online. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
There will also be train-the-trainer sessions (one for each workshop). If you know practitioners or community leaders who may be interested, please get in touch to receive full details. They are also very welcome to attend a standard session first to see how it’s delivered.
Looking for a calm and culture-filled way to spend your Saturday afternoons? Screentime Free Film Club invites you to step away from everyday distractions and enjoy a thoughtfully curated film screening each week at Harlow Central Library.
Taking place every Saturday from 2.00 – 4.00 pm, the club offers free film screenings in a welcoming, friendly environment. There’s no need to book—just turn up, take a seat, and enjoy. Refreshments are available at a small charge, making it the perfect excuse to settle in and unwind.
The programme showcases a diverse range of classic, international, and independent films, offering something a little different from mainstream cinema and a great opportunity to discover hidden gems from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned film lover or simply curious to try something new, you’ll find a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
So why not make it part of your weekend routine? Drop in, switch off your screens, and let the film take you somewhere new.
Now the Government has launched the public consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Essex we wanted to share some additional information and support that might prove useful in your thinking and forming your own response. The Government is keen to receive feedback from organisations like yours from across Essex and your input is vital to ensure public services remain effective and efficient.
You are able to have your say on all four proposals under consideration. You can review them here: https://www.essexlgrhub.org/stronger-greater-essex. The consultation asks eight questions for each proposal.
To support you in responding to the Essex County Council three new unitary councils proposal please see the following documents:
Our summary ‘Response to the Consultation’ in respect of the Essex County Council proposal for three new unitary councils.
The annex to the ECC Consultation Response on Neighbourhoods and Localism which might be of particular interest.
Alongside the annex on Neighbourhoods and Localism there are also the following annexes which can be found on the full response here LGR consultation response.docx, which might also be helpful when developing your response to the three new unitary councils proposal.
Finances
Social care and education
Economy and housing growth
Deprivation
If you prefer, you can also email your views directly to LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk, but MHCLG has also asked that you please complete the online form as well to help with data collection.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
Parents 1st are pleased to offer parents and caregivers the unique opportunity to join our friendly and informal group running in Basildon in January 2026 to create a personal lullaby for their babies with the help of professional musicians.
You do not need to be able to sing or to write music! A skilled, professional musician will work with you to help you create your lullaby from start to finish. The lullabies will be recorded, giving you and your family something to treasure for years to come.
Where: Northlands Park Family Hub, Davenants, Basildon, Essex SS13 1QX
When: Fridays 9th January – 6th March 2026, 10:30am-12pm (some sessions will be held online, please see flyer for more details)
Cost: Free
For more information and to register your interest in joining the group, please visit the Parents 1st website:
This winter, people living with dementia or memory issues – along with their carers, friends and family – are warmly invited to join a wide range of free, friendly community groups taking place across Essex. These groups offer a welcoming space to get information, make new connections and enjoy meaningful activities together.
Across Mid, North, North West, South and West Essex, there is something for everyone. Popular Singing for the Brain® sessions use music to stimulate memory, lift mood and encourage social interaction, while Memory Cafés provide relaxed, supportive environments to chat and share experiences. For those who enjoy being active, there are Walk and Talk groups, seated movement and relaxation sessions, walking football, and other gentle activity groups designed to support wellbeing.
This winter programme also includes carers’ peer support and relaxation groups, offering carers valuable time to connect with others who understand their experiences, as well as local Winter Cafés and Hubs, providing warmth, companionship and practical support during the colder months.
All groups are free to attend, and no prior booking is required unless stated. Sessions take place regularly at accessible community venues including libraries, village halls, churches and leisure facilities throughout Essex.
If you or someone you support would benefit from joining a group, or if you would like more information about what’s available in your area, please get in touch:
